Different people experience different things in life, well, differently! Although we share many of the same central experiences in life, such as learning to drive, falling in love, or simple things like eating, drinking, and exercising, who we are determines how we perceive these experiences and how, specifically, they play out.

And pregnancy is surely no different.

It’s funny to think, but although pregnancy is a basic biological process, the way that it will play out when it comes to details both big and small depends on so many factors.

Though it starts with conception and usually ends with birth, the months in between may go very, very differently for one gal than they end up unraveling for another.

It’s not all that complicated, even, but it can be fascinating to just sit down and give it a little bit of thought. I mean, just ask around, and you’ll hear that some women you know loved pregnancy while others consider it sort of a necessary evil in order to have babies.

With a sense of wonder (and remembering that your doctor is the best source for discussing your own health and reproductive plans), let’s ponder 15 personal traits that determine how a mom’s pregnancy goes!

17 Mark Of The Mom

This physical trait is one sort of hidden within, in a momma-to-be’s genetic code!

Although pregnant women are marketed all various sorts of creams and lotions to prevent and treat stretch marks, the truth is that 90% of women are just more likely to get them than others, according to WebMD.

Did mother dearest have these discolored abnormalities snaking their way below the surface of her skin (thighs, breasts, tummy, and butt) when she was carrying you or your siblings? If so, you may be more likely to get them, as well.

Slow, steady weight gain rather than packing on the pounds at a rapid pace is thought to help in the prevention of stretch marks, as well.

So there you have it! What affects whether or not you’ll get stretch marks? It’s in the skin (and the genes).

16 All About Those Abs

When you’re dreaming of becoming pregnant, or first start to really like the idea of actually being pregnant yourself, it can be easy to focus on what in the world it will be like to actually be that lady with a big and glorious baby bump. It’s just so different from how your body appears and feels during other times of life!

Well how and when you show may depend largely on how muscular and toned your abdominal muscles are going into the whole thing. The average, according to BabyCenter, is between 12 and 16 weeks.

Mamas with extremely muscular midsections may tend to start to show later on in pregnancy than those with slightly softer tummies.

Although the uterus will grow larger at a similar rate, how much it causes the abdomen to protrude can vary quite drastically from one mother to the next.

15 Background Check

Believe it or not, there are some statistics out there showing that there are some trends as far as childbearing experiences differing for various ethnic groups.

So basically, a mom’s ethnicity may also influence her experience of being pregnant.

First of all, women of color are more likely to experience “poor treatment” by people working in the hospital because of their language, ethnicity, or cultural background, says Newsweek.

Different races may also be more or less likely to find their own prenatal care providers – and to change providers during the course of the pregnancy.

There are even different levels of confidence in medical care providers. For example, Hispanic women were determined to be the least likely to think of their doctor during pregnancy as “completely trustworthy.”

Black and Hispanic women are also more likely to experience their prenatal care as part of a group rather than as individuals.

Black childbearing women tend to be overweight before and after pregnancy more so than other groups.

And this group is also most likely to desire and to have a birth with a low level of interventions.

The list goes on, as found in a fairly recent Listening to Mothers national survey.

14 Attack Of The Acne

If you already have somewhat oily skin, are acne-prone, or have been before in your life, pregnancy may be a time of even oilier skin than usual and increased dermatological problems. According to WebMD, more than one out of ever two women will experience acne during pregnancy.

It kinda makes sense, I guess. If the raging hormones of your teenage years had your face, chest, or back breaking out with pimples, the quickly escalating hormones of pregnancy just might do the same. Some women report developing acne in different patterns and in different areas than ever before, such as along the jawline. Fun times!

You generally need to keep skincare pretty mellow when pregnant no matter what. Consult with your doctor or dermatologist, for sure. And don’t use any products containing salicylic acid, a common acne-fighting medication contained in many over-the-counter and prescription face washes, makeups, and treatments. It’s dangerous for the developing baby.

13 Mental Tendencies

Have you ever found yourself feeling frequently anxious, or even having a panic attack? It’s not uncommon, especially among women of reproductive age.

Whether this mental health issue is something that you’ve sought treatment for in the past or just something you’ve noticed that you might tend toward during stressful times in your life, it’s a possibility that you will experience anxiety during pregnancy.

With hormonal changes galore and quite a big life change for an expectant mother to process, it makes sense that some women experience a return of anxiety once they are expecting a child. Women who have a personal history of anxiety or mood disorders are more likely to experience mental health issues during pregnancy, says parents.com.

What to do? Talk to your doctor, seek professional help as needed, and do what you need to do to take care of yourself so that you can be a healthy and happy mother on the road ahead. It might even be as simple as taking up yoga and meditation.

12 Counting Kids

Some readers out there have experienced pregnancy once, twice, or even many times before, while others look forward eagerly to seeing what in the world it will be like to experience pregnancy for the first time.

And, as BabyCenter states, whether or not a mom has had children before will likely be a factor in how her pregnancy will play out.

One specific to consider here is that women who have had children before may tend to “show” sooner than first-time moms. The body seems to more readily expand in that mid-section if it’s already been through pregnancy before.

Muscle tone is likely not exactly as it was before a mother was ever pregnant when she gets pregnant for the second or subsequent time, so a baby belly can appear weeks earlier than it did the first time she was pregnant.

11 Is There A Nice Network?

This one can be really, really important at pregnancy’s end when the baby has actually been born, as well: It’s having a network of support.

Pregnancy can be a stressful time filled with many big life changes – or at the very least anticipating a few rather large life changes – and so having family or friends who provide support (both material and emotional) certainly influences how the pregnancy is experienced.

Are there excited grandparents offering to purchase a crib or provide occasional babysitting in the future?

Do they check in about how the expectant mother is doing and make sure that all is well along the way?

On the other hand, is there family drama or negativity? We know that not all close or family relationships can be described as healthy and supportive. The UCLA Newsroom further argues that women who have a strong support system during pregnancy are less likely to experience PPD.

Pregnancy (or better yet, beforehand) may be a great time to consider these important relationships, nurturing positive ones and putting less effort into (or ending) negative ones.

10 Hello, Health History

Okay, so I think that for people who are lucky enough (and have the genetics, and have put in the care and dedication) to be relatively healthy tend to have easier and more pleasant pregnancies.

Some of this we can control, and some of it we can’t, but having a history of health complications or current health complications, according to Women's Health, might certainly make your pregnancy quite a different experience from that of another woman.

Are there medications that you require regularly – and will you be able to continue taking these medications or suitable alternatives during your pregnancy, for example? Otherwise, unpleasant symptoms or the health problems being treated might be experienced or return.

Although having a clean bill of health is no guarantee that the pregnancy will be a complication-free and “easy” one, having existing problems (diabetes, high blood pressure, and so on and so forth) might certainly influence things the other way.

9 Can She Avoid Hemorrhoids?

Some health issues aren’t necessarily the end of the world, but it doesn’t make them any less uncomfortable or simply ANNOYING.

Some women experience hemorrhoids for the first time during pregnancy, and others have already had them at other times in life, but if you’ve already had them before, it might just make it more likely that you’ll get them again. BabyCenter also states that hemorrhoids are more likely to occur during the third trimester, so that's somehting to look forward too.

Avoiding constipation by staying active and eating a high-fiber diet (and staying adequately hydrated) may help in your quest to avoid these sometimes painful and itchy swollen veins … down there (the anus). Talk to your doc about your own personal health history and problems – even these.

But increased blood volume during pregnancy and constipation due to a slowed-down digestive system can mean hemorrhoids for any expectant mom.

8 Bad And Bladder

If you’ve ever had a UTI (a urinary tract infection, also sometimes called a bladder infection), you know how completely awful and terrible they can be. There’s often an urgency to urinate, but nothing or very little comes out. There can be a painful sensation during urinating (and even when not peeing).

You’ve also probably been warned that they should always be treated by a doctor IMMEDIATELY because they can lead to even more dangerous infections of the kidneys, which can result in death.

If you’ve had UTIs before, warns americanpregnancy.org, or tend to get them, watch out during pregnancy, because when women are expecting, it’s an easy time to get these infections. And they can be even more dangerous.

Keeping things clean by having clean genitals and having a sexual partner with clean genitals (as well as urinating immediately following sex) are often recommended measures to be taken to prevent the occurrence of UTIs.

7 A Mom’s Metabolism

You may be aware that some people seem to have a “faster” metabolism than others. Sometimes, it seems to have been that way ever since they were little girls or boys.

You know how some people seem to need to eat almost constantly just to have energy and maintain their weight – whereas for others, it’s a constant struggle to intake a low enough amount of calories that body weight isn’t constantly being put on?

Well whether or not you have a “slow” or “fast” metabolism may influence your experience of pregnancy to some degree, as well.

According to health.howstuffworks.com, women who tend to have a high metabolic rate might find themselves really having to up healthy snacks and meals once pregnant, as metabolism increases during pregnancy.

They might have to be careful, though, to choose nutritious founds rather than empty calories, to avoid putting on too much weight too fast.

A person who’s used to having a “slow” metabolism might notice the increase in metabolism, being able to intake more and snack healthily while still gaining at what’s considered a healthy rate.

It all depends on the person (and their choices and habits).

6 A Surprise In The Eyes

Sorry to say, but the hormonal changes of pregnancy not only have possible effects on a woman’s skin, hair, and emotions -- they can also make for some big changes with her eyes. And if you already tend to have dry eyes, or if you wear contacts, dry eye syndrome during pregnancy can make for extremely dry-feeling eyes, says parenting.com.

They may even begin to feel somewhat gritty -- particularly toward the end of the day. Yikes!

Talk to the doc if this turns out to be you. Many women choose to take a break from wearing contacts and switch to using glasses to correct their eyesight during pregnancy. It’s just not worth the discomfort. Trust me.

Your doctor or eye doctor will probably also be able to recommend certain eye drops that may be helpful and safe for use while pregnant.

5 It’s All In The Wrist

Have you ever seen workers, friends, or family members wearing those tight wrist braces that allow the fingers to stick out of one main opening and the thumb to come out of another? They’re often black or tan, and Velcro on. They’re often used to treat the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, when a passage within the wrist causes chronic pain for the unlucky guy or gal.

And, BabyCenter says that it’s even more likely to occur during pregnancy, so you may need to, ahem, brace yourself if you’ve already had the condition before...

Extra fluid retention is a factor, as it is in so many of the changes a body undergoes during pregnancy.

Pain, swelling, numbness, and tingling may be experienced. And sorry to say, but the condition can persist into the postpartum days and months, as well. That doesn’t exactly make feeding and caring for a newborn any easy.

4 Dental Dilemmas

It is completely bizarre to me how many people neglect their teeth and gums. Think about those golden years, when your chompers are important in your ability to eat, your chance to live without pain, and your wellness in general…

And also think about when you’re pregnant.

The American Pregnancy Association states that the bacteria of gingivitis can cause dangerous complications during pregnancy and put the unborn fetus in danger, as well. That’s why if you look online or ask your doctor for a list of things to consider as you ponder becoming pregnant, getting your teeth and gums into good shape is often a highlight.

If your gums are in bad shape, they’ll probably get even worse, with swelling, bleeding, and even “pregnancy tumors” developing on the gums. Even if your mouth is pretty healthy, some of these symptoms may be experienced. They’re pretty common! The tales my hygienist had to tell…

3 Go, Shorty

I had a neighbor once who could not have been a smidge over five feet tall. And then she got pregnant -- with twins.

While women who are exceptionally tall can appear to have less noticeable baby bumps even very late in the game, mamas-to-be who are rather shorter than average, says health.com, can appear to be very pregnant rather early on in pregnancy. It’s like there’s nowhere else for that baby to go but out.

So if you often find yourself shopping in the petite section, rolling up your jeans, and favoring heels over flats when you’ll need to see over a crowd, you might want to be prepared to buy some maternity clothes a bit earlier on in the game than some of us need to. Especially if you’re carrying multiples!

There’s certainly no set rule, though.

2 A Weighty Matter

Being overweight can cause and be connected to a whole variety of health problems. And of course it can affect how a pregnancy will go, as well -- and possibly even a woman’s ability to conceive.

If you fall into this category, you are certainly not alone. About half of pregnant women are overweight, and a fifth of moms-to-be are considered obese. When you look at the stats on BabyCenter for the population at large, it’s somehow not exactly shocking.

If you are heavier than your ideal weight when you become pregnant, it may be harder for your doctor to determine the position and size of your baby. The baby may also be larger than normal at birth. The risk can also be increased for a C-section, high blood pressure, preeclampsia, preterm birth, and birth defects. This stuff is pretty important!

1 The Outer Layer

If a momma commonly finds herself with dry skin, she may just be in luck. The American Pregnancy Association says that a woman might find herself experiencing a boost in oil production as the hormones of pregnancy rise, giving her that trademark “glow of pregnancy” (which can also be related to increased blood volume giving a woman’s cheeks a rosier hue).

Lucky you if this is the case! Be sure to protect that beautiful skin with sunscreen, protective clothing, and a wide-brimmed hat whenever you are going to be spending time outside.

If you ask me, it might be a great time to experiment with more minimal makeup, ditch some of those products that are building up in your medicine cabinet and purse, and bask more fully in the natural beauty that is you!

On the other hand, if you’re still feeling as dry as ever, less frequent showers and sensitive-skin moisturizers might do the trick.

Sources: WhatToExpect.com, BabyCenter.com, FitPregnancy.com, MyCarpalTunnel.com, Transform.ChildbirthConnection.org, AmericanPregnancy.org, WebMD.com, BabyCenter.co.uk, Newsweek.com, Parents.com, UCLA Newsroom, WomensHealth.gov, Health.howstuffworks.com, Health.com